Vertical shaft excavating apparatus



June 28, 1949. A. A.-PUTNAM `2,474,803

VERTICAL'SHAFT EXCAVATING APPARATUS Filed May 10, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet `l Y' 2 FIG. l.

June 28, 1949. A. A. PUTNAM A 2,474,803

' vERTIcAL SHAFT EXCAVATING APPARATUS A Filed May 10, 1947 y 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 28,1949. "A, A, PUTNAM 2,474,803

VERTICAL SHAFT EXCAVATING APPARATUS Filed may 1o, 1947 4 sheets-sheet 5 June 2s, 1949. A A. PUTNAM 2,474,803

y VERTICAL SHAFT EXCAVATING APARATUS Filed May 10, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 28, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to vertical shaft excavating apparatus, and with regard to certain more specific features, to such apparatus for sinking shafts through rock and the like.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of shaft-sinking excavating apparatus which will increase the speed and decrease the cost of driving a shaft through rock or the like; the provision of apparatus of the class described which increases the ease and safety with which the necessary mucking operations may be performed; and the provision of apparatus of the class described which will substantially increase the life of machinery used in shaft sinking operations. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exempliiied in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section showing the apparatus of the invention applied to shaft sinking operations, the dotted lines indicating certain alternative positions of such apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line Z-Z of Fig. 1, parts being broken away as required be*- ter to illustrate the invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the operating parts of Fig. 2, showing in dotted lines an alternative position of a power shovel, the surrounding shaft walls not being shown;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail View oi certain shovel parts; and,

Fig. 5 is a perspective View, parts being broken away.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. l, there is shown at numeral I a rock shaft which is illustrated as being sunk by means of the invention This shaft, by way of example, is shown as of rectangular cross section; but it is to be understood that the invention may be carried out in connection with shafts of other cross sections.

As the shaft l is extended downward, bracing is built in as shown generally at 3. Such bracing is generally most economically constructed of wood, although other materials may be employed. It is composed of shaft timber sets, each made up of braces 5 and studdles 1. The bracing may be held in lplace by wedging in planks between it and the shaft, as illustrated at 9, or in any other suitable manner. The bracing is not built right down to the bottom II of the shaft I, but to a point I3 a suitable working distance above the bottom.

Suspended approximately below one side of the bracing 3 is an elongate traverse bar or portable support I5 of substantial. extent. At suitable points this bar carries prows I1 for skidding the bar over the side of the shaft. Each end prow carries a sheave I9 for accommodating a suspension cable 2|. The latter is anchored to one side of the lower end of the bracing 3 as at 23, and is then threaded through one sheave at one end of the traverse bar l5, then through the sheave at the other end of the traverse bar and then up to a power-operated hoisting drum 25 supported at the lower end of the bracing 3. By winding in and paying out cable 2l from the drum Z5, the traverse bar I1 may be raised and loweredalong one wall of the shaft which is being sunk. 'I'he length of the traverse bar is preferably nearly equal to one width of the shaft. Pivoted to the prows I1 are hydraulic or air jacks 21, by means of which reactive forces may be applied to the ends of the traverse bar from suitable points in the excavation. These anchor the traverse bar at any given elevation.

'I'he traverse bar I5 is built up into a channel section (Fig. 4) for accommodating rails 29 which act as guide supports for wheels 3l (on horizontal axes) and lateral guide rollers 33 (on vertical axes). The wheels 3l and rollers 33 movably support a carriage 35 on the traverse bar. This carriage includes an operators seat 31 next tov which are controls 4I and a poweroperated drum 39. The power unit is shown at 40. The drum 39 has wrapped about it several turns of a cable 43. The ends of the cable are held by anchors near the ends of the traverse lbar I5. Thus if the drum 39 is rotated in one direction or another as determined from the controls 4I, the carriage 35 may be made to move back and forth on the traverse bar I5. It is of course obvious that other traversing means might .be substituted for the drum and cable, such as, for example, a rack and pinion drive or the like.

a The carriage 35 includes a horizontal pivot 41 upon which is pivoted the boom 4B of a power shovel. Articulated with the boom 4S is the usual dipper stick 5I carrying a shovel 6I. The shovel 4has an openable bottom 63 controllable in the usual Way from controls 4I by an operator in the seat 31. On the dipper stick is a crowding rack 53 controlled from a pinion 55, the latter being reversibly driven through a chain drive 51 from a crowding motor 59, the latter being under `control of the operator in seat 31 through said controls 4 I. The station for the controls 4 l, includes the operators seat and is movable with the movable elements which support the boom.

At the end of the boom 49 is anchored at 65 one end of a dipper control cable t1 which passes over the control sheaves 59 attached to the dipper end. The other end of the cable 61 Wraps on a powerdriven hoist drum 1l, also under control of the operator in ,seat -31 from his controls 4l.

Details of the controls 4I are not given, since these are old on known shovels and the like.

Pivoted near the outer end of the boom 49 is Y a sheave block 13 through which is threaded a cable 15, the latter being anchored at l1 at fan elevated point and to one side of the bracing 3. The other end of the cable 15 isv wrapped on a drum 19 of a power hoist 5I .carried in the upper portion of the bracing 3.

Both of the hoists 25 and 9| are under control of a workman in the shaft by means of suspended rope controls 93.

From the above rit 4will be clear that the power shovel may by means of the carri-age 35 be traversed into any lateral position in the lower end of the shaft, as illustratedby the vsolidland dotted-line positions `in Fig. 3; also that 'the boom 49 and di-pper stick "5i may be manipulated so that the shovel -B'I will reach muck on any lpart of the floor of the shaft, as illustrated Eby the soli-d and ldotted lines in Fig. l, for example.

In order to 'hoist material picked up by the shovel '6 I, the bracing 5 carries two lines lof vertical tracks 85 and 93 'composed 'of palrsof channel rails for the wheels 81 of ahoist bucket 89. While the permanent main runs Iof the track-s 95 and i93 end at the lower end of the 'bracing "3 '(see numeral 91) temporary portions '9'3 and 94 may be built down from time to time rbelow the bracing '3 so that the bucket 89 may be brought below 'a raised position of the shovel Bl. The bucket may traverse either run 85 or fst. The bucket e9 lincludes a yfpail 95 for suspending 'it from a hoisting cafble 91. The double runs of track minimize the traversfing movement required for the shovel when working on one :sid-e :of the shaft.

It will be understood .that the various power driving units mentioned may lbe of the type 'suitable for safe-ty in the shaft being driven; for /eX- ample, they may/be pneumatic, hydraulic or electric, as the rules allow.

It will be seen that the reactions on the vtraverse bar due to the weight of the boom and shovel parts, including the shovel load, `are such as normally to force the traverse '-bar against the side wallof the shaft, 'without the anchoring jacks 21. These jacks serve mainly for -steadying purposes. `It 'will be vobserved that practically the Ientire load of the shovel and barparts is carried by the cables 25| and 1-5.

The bucket U9, if desired, 'also provides transportation for introducing Vand Aremoving personnel from the shaft.

Operation is as follows". Y

Assume that by means of previous operations the bottom of the shaft Vhas been driven down to the elevation E and cleaned out. At this time the jacks 21 are relieved and the traverse bar `l is drawn up into the dotted-line ,position shown in Fig. 1, which 'is just under the lowermost timber set. At this time the boom 49 ris folded up and the clipper stick '5l is folded 'down '(jack-knifed) This places the shovel `parts in the least vulnerable positions in respect to any blast which will occur in the shaft. The `bottom of the shaft "is drilled and charged. The hoist bucket 89 is removed with personnel. Temporary 'tracks '93 may also be removed but this will not always be necessary.

The bottom is then blasted, which again deposits alayer of muck which must be removed. This cavating apparatusis easily accomplished by letting down the per- `sonnel in the bucket; then the traverse bar I5 to an elevation just over the upper level of the muck. Itis then anchored by means of the jacks 21. The cable 15 is adjusted Afor the best position of :the boom. The operator in the seat 31 may at will traverse the carriage 35 carrying with it the boom 49. During traverse, the sheave 13 works back and forth under the triangular loop formed by the cable 15 (note Fig. 3). The operator controls the angling and crowding of the dipper stick from the vzcord'frcls 4l and dumps scooped loads from `the shovel 6I into the bucket 89. The latter from time to time is pulled up along the rails S3 and 85 by means of the hoisting cable 91 to be dumped above ground.

It willbe understood that the timber sets abovev described vas supports for the apparatus also have the function in many shafts of `bracing the sides of the .shaft in cases where the condition of theA rock is not firm. if the rock is. of such `good condition that lit will support itself `without bracing timber-sets, then the supporting structure maybe installed at the top of fthe shaft, above ground level; and as the work progresses downward, the

cables 25|, 15, 191 `are lengthened, as already idescribed. In such case a lifting bucket may be used requiring only the cable le?! and'no tracks, or tracks maybe used with only enough support to hold them .in alignment. Thus 'the .supporting structure needed ffor the suspended Aparts 'is ysupplied =by the :timber sets, when used; ibut if they are 'not used, then the supporting structure at 'the top of the .sha-rt serves only to support .the vex- I have used .as an illustrative example the case wherein .the :supporti-ng structure is in, .and also supports the shaft. The character of a .non-.shaft-bracing .structure that would be used above ground will `be obvious fromk the above description and further details. will be unnecessary .to those skilled in this art.

Advantages of thefinvention-azre that during thek explosion the :operating apparatus is retracted into a relatively 'safe position wherein little or no damage will be don-e to it. It presents a minimum projected area in .the direction of ythe blast.

The traverse bar 5 is `easily let down into the desired position and anchored. Although the length lof the tra-verse bar` may :be greater than the .inside length of one side of lthe bracing 3, during descent it can be angledinto `position along the diagonal of the bracing. Being shorter than the diagonal, it can readily be introduced and removed 'while the shovel parts are folded up. It will be noted that this requires no disassembly of the traverse bar and vshovel parts. I-n the final anchored position of the :bar it is ylocated on a side wall where it does not interfere with any y ope-rationscf the `shovel `(il in connection with all of the muck `on :the oor of the .shaft (note the lower .left of fFig. 1).

In view -of the above, it will be seen that the several objects fof the invention are achieved and other .advantageous results attained.

supporting structure in the space below said structure and engageable with a side of the shaft, a traversing carriage on the traverse bar, a boom pivoted on the carriage, adjustable means extending from the supporting structure for suspending the boom at a desired angle, a shovel on the boom, means controllable by an operator at the bottom of the shaft for controlling the elevation of the traverse bar and also the boom suspension, means controllable by an operator on the carriage for traversing the carriage on the traverse bai' and for controlling the operation of the shovel on the boom, the adjustable boom support comprising a sheave on the boom and a cable anchored toward one side of the shaft and passing through the sheave to a winding reel towards the other side ofthe shaft, whereby when the carriage is traversed the boom support will be effective in any traversed position of the boom.

2. Excavating apparatus for sinking shafts in rock and the like, comprising a supporting structure, a traverse bar adjustably suspended from the supporting structure in the space below said structure and engageable with a side of the shaft, a traversing carriage on the traverse bar, a boom pivoted on the carriage, adjustable suspension means extending from the supporting structure for suspending the boom at a desired angle, a dipper shovel on the boom, means controllable by an operator at the bottom of the shaft for controlling the elevation of the traverse bar and also the boom suspension, means controllable by an operator on the carriage for traversing the carriage on the traverse bar and for controlling the operation of the shovel on the boom, the clipper shovel and boom being adapted to be vertically jacknifed with respect to the traverse bar, the adjustable suspension means for the traverse bar being adapted to lift the bar to a location to place the jackknifed elements in a safe elevated position when the bottom of the shaft is to be blasted.

3. Excavating apparatus for sinking shafts in rock and the like, comprising a hollow brace structure extending in a shaft to a point short of its bottom, a traverse bar adjustably suspended from the brace structure in the space below said structure and engageable with a side of the shaft, a traversing carriage on the traverse bar, a shovel boom pivoted on the carriage, adjustable suspension means extending from the brace structure for suspending the boom at a desired angle, a dipper shovel on the boom, means controllable by an operator at the bottom of the shaft for controlling the elevation of the traverse bar and also the boom suspension, means controllable by an operator on the carriage for traversing the carriage on the traverse bar and for controlling the operation of the shovel on the boom, a hoist bucket, permanent guide rails in the brace structure for the bucket, and temporary guide rail extensions from the permanent rails and extending into the space below the brace structure for guiding the bucket to a location at the bottom of the shaft.

4. Excavating apparatus for sinking shafts in rock and the like, comprising a supporting structure, a traverse bar having adjustable suspension means extending from the supporting structure, the bar being located in the space below said structure and engageable with a side of the shaft, a traversing carriage on the traverse bar, a boom pivoted on the carriage, adjustable suspension means extending from the structure for suspending the boom at a desired angle with respect to the bottom of the shaft, and means controllable by an operator near the bottom of the shaft for controlling the adjustable suspension means of the traverse bar to control its elevation, the position of the carriage on the traverse bar and the adjustable suspension means of the boom to control its angle.

5. Excavating apparatus for sinking a shaft in rock and the like, comprising a supporting structure, a traverse bar in the shaft, adjustable suspension means from the structure supporting the traverse bar in a position wherein it may engage a side of the shaft, a traverse carriage on the traverse bar, a boom pivoted on the carriage, adjustable suspension means extending from the structure for suspending the boom at a desired angle with respect to the bottom of the shaft and permitting its traverse, and means controllable by an operator near the bottom of the shaft for controlling both suspension means and for controlling the traverse of the carriage on the traverse bar.

6. Excavating apparatus for sinking a shaft in rock or the like, comprising a supporting struc-- ture, a boom support in the shaft, adjustable suspension means extending from the supporting structure for locating the boom support adjacent one wall of the shaft and above its bottom, a boom pivoted to the boom support, an adjustable suspension means extending from the supporting structure for suspending the boom at a desired angle above the bottom of the shaft, and means controllable by an operator near the bottom shaft for controlling both adjustable suspension means.

7. Excavating apparatus for sinking a shaft in rock or the like, comprising an elongate Suspended support having substantially spaced ends and adapted to be placed parallel to one vertical wall of the shaft, holding elements adapted to react from the shaft to push laterally on the ends of said portable support toward said vertical wall for anchoring the support near its spaced ends, a suspension device for adjusting the position of said suspended element with respect to said wall prior to anchoring, a boom, movable operative elements located on said support between its held ends for moving the boom with respect to the support, said boom being pivoted to said movable operative elements, a clipper arm on the boom, and control elements for the boom and the dipper arm operative from a, station movably carried with the movable operative elements, said station being located between said end supports.

ALVIN A. PUTNAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,358,543 Tofliemire Sept. 19, 1944 2,421,379 Harding June 3, 1947 2,426,591 Boskovich Sept. 2, 1947 2,440,501 Erickson Apr. 27, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 486,168 Germany Nov. 11, 1929 691,070 Germany May 16, 1940 

